100% found this document useful (1 vote)
344 views16 pages

Environmental Pollution Causes and Effects

This document is a student's monograph titled "Environmental Pollution" for their Conversation II class at the Language Center of the National University of Santa in Nuevo Chimbote, Peru. It discusses the causes of environmental pollution, including industries, transportation, agricultural activities, deforestation, trading activities, and residences. It then covers the consequences of pollution, such as the effects of air, soil, and water pollution and impacts on human health. The monograph concludes with recommendations for implementing environmental policies and protecting air, water, nature, and biodiversity.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Topics covered

  • human health,
  • environmental legislation,
  • environmental research,
  • waste management,
  • climate action,
  • community health,
  • resource management,
  • clean water,
  • climate policy,
  • environmental education
100% found this document useful (1 vote)
344 views16 pages

Environmental Pollution Causes and Effects

This document is a student's monograph titled "Environmental Pollution" for their Conversation II class at the Language Center of the National University of Santa in Nuevo Chimbote, Peru. It discusses the causes of environmental pollution, including industries, transportation, agricultural activities, deforestation, trading activities, and residences. It then covers the consequences of pollution, such as the effects of air, soil, and water pollution and impacts on human health. The monograph concludes with recommendations for implementing environmental policies and protecting air, water, nature, and biodiversity.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Topics covered

  • human health,
  • environmental legislation,
  • environmental research,
  • waste management,
  • climate action,
  • community health,
  • resource management,
  • clean water,
  • climate policy,
  • environmental education

“Year of National Dialogue and Reconciliation”

LANGUAGE CENTER OF THE NATIONAL


UNIVERSITY OF SANTA

Monograph:
“ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION”

Student’s name: Egoavil Soto Mishel

Cycle: Conversation II

Days: Monday-Wednesday-Friday

Timetable: 8-10pm.

Date: 02/04/18

Teacher’s name: Rivera Altamirano Juan Carlos

Principal’s name: Juan Martinez Guillen

Nuevo Chimbote – Peru


I. DEDICATION
To God for keeping me alife, to my parents for the support that offer me when I
really need, to my classmates for their kidness and teamwork, to my teacher
because he supported me in the perform of my monograph and the last to all
who are interested in the subject that I will expose.
II. INTRODUCTION
In this monograph I talk about one of the most important problema in the planet.
The climatic change and pollution it’s because our actions as the humans such
as: cars ejected very much carbón dioxide, the trash in the sea, in ground and
the air, all these actions are the lack of information about the damages that a
producto r waste can cause in the environment, the lack of technology to
properly dispose of waste and produce cleanly. Besides the great advance of
technology and new job opportunities bring pollution to the irresponsibility with
the planet and bad habits.
The planet earth is the only habitad that houses life for that reason we should
be taken care of, also we must think about the new generations and our
descendants. So I chose this topic because I want people to be aware of the
irreparable damage they are causing to the earth and I expect that people take
awareness and take care about the planet where we live.

I will show information about causes of pollution, the consequences and finally
some recomendations for this serious problem.
INDEX

III. CONTENT ....................................................................................................................... 5


1. GENERALITIES ............................................................................................................. 5
2. CAUSES .......................................................................................................................... 5
A. Industries ................................................................................................................ 5
B. Transportation....................................................................................................... 6
C. Agricultural Activities.......................................................................................... 6
D. Deforestation ......................................................................................................... 7
E. Trading Activities ..................................................................................................... 7
F. Residences................................................................................................................. 7
3. CONSEQUENCES ......................................................................................................... 8
A. Effects of Air Pollution ........................................................................................ 8
B. Effects of Soil Pollution ...................................................................................... 9
C. Effects of Water Pollution .................................................................................. 9
D. Human health ...................................................................................................... 10
4. RECOMEDATIONS: .................................................................................................... 11
A. Implementing environmental policies........................................................... 11
B. Air ........................................................................................................................... 11
C. Water ...................................................................................................................... 12
D. Waste ..................................................................................................................... 12
E. Nature conservation and biodiversity............................................................... 13
IV. CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................... 15
V. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES................................................................................. 16
III. CONTENT
1. GENERALITIES
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that
cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or
energy, such as noise, heat or light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can
be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants.
Pollution is often classed as point source or nonpoint source pollution. In 2015,
pollution killed 9 million people in the world.

Pollution may be of the following types:

o Air pollution
o Noise pollution
o Water pollution
o Soil pollution
o Thermal pollution
o Radiation pollution

2. CAUSES
Let us first take a look at the causes of environmental pollution:

A. Industries

Industries have been


polluting our environment
especially since the
beginning of the industrial
revolution, as mentioned
above, notably due to the
increasing use of fossil
fuels. In the 19th century and for a significant part of the 20thcentury, coal
has been use to make machines work faster, replacing human force.
Though pollution by industries mainly causes air pollution, soil and water
contamination can also occur. This is particularly the case for power-
generating industries, such as plants producing electricity (May they be a
dam, a nuclear reactor or some other type of plant).

Also, the transportation of this energy can be harmful to the environment.


We can take as an example the transportation of petrol through
pipelines; if there is a leak in the pipeline, soil will automatically be
polluted. At the same time, if the tanker transporting the petrol from its
production plant to the place where it will be consumed leaks or sinks,
the water will get contaminated.

B. Transportation

Ever since men abandoned


animal power to
travel, pollution of the
environment has become
higher and higher. Its levels
have only been increasing
until now. Similarly to
industries, pollution caused
by transport can mainly be attributed to fossil fuels. Indeed, humans went
from horse carriages to cars, trains (which, before electricity, used to be
propelled by coal), and air planes. As the traffic is increasing every day,
pollution follows that evolution.

C. Agricultural Activities

Agriculture is mainly responsible for the contamination of water and soil.


This is caused by the increased use of pesticides, as well as by the
intensive character of its production. Almost all pesticides are made from
chemical substances and are meant to keep diseases and threatening
animals away from the crops. However, by keeping these forms of life
away, harm is almost always made to the surrounding environment as
well.
Furthermore, as agriculture gets more and more intensive to feed
the increasing world population, more environments and ecosystems are
destroyed to make space for the crops. Some of them, like rapeseed –
used to make oil – demand a lot of space for a relatively small output.

D. Deforestation

Deforestation has an effect on global air quality because trees release


water vapor into the air which affects atmospheric temperatures and
other crucial elements that keep this earth of ours ticking over nicely.
When there are fewer trees, less water vapor is released into the air,
which means an imbalance occurs and we start to see the effects of
global warming and temperature rises.

As well as causing a rise in the global temperature, deforestation affects


the air that we breathe. This is because all trees take in carbon dioxide
and other pollutants which are known to cause a lot of problems in the
atmosphere. This inevitably results in all of us breathing dirtier and more
polluted air than we otherwise would.

E. Trading Activities

Trading activities including


the production and
exchange of goods and
services. Concerning goods,
pollution can be caused by
packaging (which often
involves the use of plastic,
which is made from fossil fuels) or transport, mainly.

F. Residences

Finally, residential areas provide their fair share of pollution as well. First,
to be able to build homes, natural environment has to be destroyed in
one way or another. Wildlife and plants are driven away and replaced by
human constructions. As it requires the work of industries, construction
itself is also a source of contamination of the environment. Then, when
people settle in, they will produce waste every day, including a part that
cannot be processed by the environment without harm yet.

3. CONSEQUENCES

A. Effects of Air Pollution


Greenhouse gases, like fossil fuels released by vehicles and factories,
and methane, released by livestock, contribute to air pollution and add to
climate change by raising the earth's temperature. In a vicious circle,
climate change then makes a certain type of air pollution worse. A
reaction between combusting fossil fuel emissions and sunlight creates
smog, a yellowish or blackish fog
also known as "ground level
ozone." Climate change also
creates more allergenic air
pollutants, such as mold caused
by damp conditions and pollen
caused by a longer pollen season
and increased pollen production.
Air pollution can have a serious heath impact on humans. If you are
exposed to very high levels of air pollutants, you may experience
irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, wheezing, coug hing and breathing
problems and have a greater risk of heart attacks. Air pollution can also
exacerbate existing lung and heart conditions, like asthma. Smog can
irritate the eyes and throat and also damage the lungs. Children, senior
citizens and people who work or exercise outside are at a greater risk.
Those most at risk are people with asthma or allergies because
pollutants can make their symptoms worse and trigger asthma attacks.
Across the world, climate change leads to more drought, heat waves,
rising sea levels, storms, warming oceans and rising sea levels, which
affect animal species by destroying their natural habitats.
B. Effects of Soil Pollution
Pollutants in soil, most
often from industrial
sources, deforestation
and improper waste
disposal, put animals and
plants in danger. Soil
polluted by chemicals eventually becomes infertile and unable to support
crops and other plant life. This hinders food production and can lead to
malnourishment in local communities. If soil pollutants produce
contaminated food, anyone who eats it may become ill. Toxic soil may
also cause illness through skin contact or inhalation.

C. Effects of Water Pollution


Pollutants in water resulting from trash, oil spills, sewage spills and run-
off from agricultural fields, construction sites and factories affect native
plant and animal species. Drinking contaminated water caused by
sewage overflow may cause sickness and digestive problems in humans.
Pollutants such as mercury in fish and seafood can lead to serious health
problems, especially in children and pregnant women.
When water is poisoned,
many animals die. Six
months after the 2010 BP oil
spill, which affected 16,000
miles of U.S. coastline, over
8,000 animals were reported
dead. Animals are also often
injured or killed by solid
waste discarded in water.
D. Human health
Adverse air quality can kill many organisms including humans. Ozone
pollution can cause respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, throat
inflammation, chest pain, and congestion. Water pollution causes
approximately 14,000 deaths per day, mostly due to contamination of
drinking water by untreated sewage in developing countries. An
estimated 500 million Indians have no access to a proper toilet, Over ten
million people in India fell ill with waterborne illnesses in 2013, and 1,535
people died, most of them children. Nearly 500 million Chinese lack
access to safe drinking water. A 2010 analysis estimated that 1.2 million
people died prematurely each year in China because of air pollution. The
WHO estimated in 2007 that air pollution causes half a million deaths per
year in India. Studies have estimated that the number of people killed
annually in the United States could be over 50,000.
Oil spills can cause skin irritations and rashes. Noise pollution induces
hearing loss, high blood pressure, stress, and sleep disturbance.
Mercury has been linked to developmental deficits in children and
neurologic symptoms. Older people are majorly exposed to diseases
induced by air pollution. Those with heart or lung disorders are at
additional risk. Children and infants are also at serious risk. Lead and
other heavy metals have been shown to cause neurological problems.
Chemical and radioactive substances can cause cancer and as well as
birth defects.
An October 2017 study by
the Lancet Commission on
Pollution and Health found
that global pollution,
specifically toxic air, water,
soils and workplaces, kill
nine million people annually,
which is triple the number of deaths caused by AIDS, tuberculosis and
malaria combined, and 15 times higher than deaths caused by wars and
other forms of human violence.
4. RECOMEDATIONS
A. Implementing environmental policies
 Further pursue efforts to decouple economic growth and employment
creation from pollution pressures and energy and resource use;
 extend environmental policy attention to unsolved or new challenges,
including nature conservation and diffuse pollution from agriculture and
transport;
 continue efforts to harmonise, streamline and further develop
environmental legislation within an integrated Environmental Code;
 strengthen and extend use of economic instruments to internalise
external costs, and to progress towards sustainable production and
consumption;
 improve the efficiency and transparency (e.g. accounting practices) of
water and waste related services provided at municipal level;
 ensure that voluntary agreements become more effective and efficient
(e.g. clear targets, reliable monitoring, improved transparency and third
party participation);
 increase economic analyses of environmental policy measures, with the
aim of achieving environmental objectives more cost-effectively.

B. Air
 Reduce or eliminate environmentally harmful subsidies in the energy and
transport sectors;
 reinforce measures to limit NOx and CO2 emissions from motor vehicle
use and emissions of NMVOCs from solvent use;
 develop more rational transport pricing and taxation to further internalise
associated environmental costs, and to encourage more fuel efficient and
less polluting modes;
 develop mechanisms to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of control policy
options, and make broader use of economic incentives for achieving air
quality objectives;
 take further measures to reduce total final energy consumption in the
residential sector.
C. Water
 Develop a comprehensive strategy to address diffuse pollution of surface
and groundwater, including a mix of measures to further reduce nutrient
surpluses from agriculture and to implement specific, more stringent
requirements for farmers in vulnerable areas;
 further reduce point source pollution of water through further investments
in advanced treatment facilities, and through increasing the incentive
function of water effluent charges;
 address diffuse water pollution by heavy metals in a comprehensive
manner, through extension of charging for rainwater collection and
treatment;
 enhance flood prevention in the main river basins by developing
partnership approaches among stakeholders, and by including flood plain
areas in regional land use planning and nature conservation;
 pursue efforts to develop water quality monitoring, particularly for
pesticides and nutrients in groundwater and lakes;
 take further steps towards implementation of water resource
management using a river basin approach

D. Waste
 Improve efficiency of household waste management by opening the
disposal market to competition, with monitoring and control by public
authorities;
 conduct an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the Duale System for
recycling packaging material, and of material recycling schemes in
general; assess their environmental benefits compared with other forms
of treatment and disposal;
 further develop implementation of the principle of extended producer
responsibility in the industrial sector, possibly expanding the use of
economic incentives;
 elaborate plans to ensure that treatment and disposal of waste (e.g.
hazardous waste, household waste) which is unsuitable for recycling are
organised efficiently, building on enhanced co-operation between federal
and regional authorities and better identifying future infrastructure needs;
 continue efforts aimed at upgrading landfill sites to meet legal
requirements, and at remediating closed dump sites and contaminated
sites, especially in the New Länder;
 take measures to improve the availability and timeliness of data
pertaining to waste generation, treatment and disposal at the national
level.

E. Nature conservation and biodiversity


 Formally adopt a set of specific national objectives for nature
conservation, and develop specific nature conservation plans at the level
of the Länder;
 increase understanding and awareness of nature conservation and
biodiversity issues among decision-makers and the general public; in
particular, develop and adopt a national biodiversity strategy;
 strengthen efforts and set targets for creating new protected areas
(including Natura 2000 sites) and improve the representativeness of the
network of protected areas;
 obtain agreement and transposition, at the Länder and local levels, of the
federal objective of reducing the rate at which land is urbanised to 30
hectares per day by 2020;
 establish a performance assessment system to increase the
transparency and effectiveness of spatial and landscape planning
decisions;
 extend the role of landscape protection groups in stakeholder mediation
procedures concerning extension and management of protected areas;
 further improve the effectiveness of voluntary agri-environmental
measures by ensuring that they are applied on an ecologically
appropriate scale;
 encourage private landowners to conserve nature and biodiversity on
their land, e.g. through a wider range of economic instruments.
News like that make me feel worry about the future, what kind of world we are
leaving to our progeny, they will suffer because of us. Probably the will have to
fight for water, they won’t have clean oxygen, they won’t have enough food,
they will have to bear high temperatures. We need to make a big change to
make an impact in our future and in ours progeny’s future. If we continue in this
pattern, there will be more than some countries without water service, also the
air pollution will expand to more countries, and deforestation will keep
increasing global warming.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
 The environmental pollution is a serious problem that if it isn’t treated
soon, later humans could disappear.
 We have read about different disasters around the world caused by our
irresponsibility, ambition, greed, and they keep being bigger than the last
ones.
 High temperatures have been registered in different countries, and every
year they keep increasing. In the same way, low temperatures have been
registered in some countries. Everything is due to global warming.
 Must implement mandatory environmental policies to each country to
reduce the pollution that we currently live.
V. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
 Alice. (2015). Acerca de nosotros: [Link]. Recuperado el 2018, de
sitio web de [Link]: [Link]
air-pollution/
 Gillespie, C. (24 de April de 2018). Acerca de nosotros: SCIENCING.
Recuperado el 26 de April de 2018, de sitio web de SCIENCING:
[Link]
 PERFORMANCE, W. P. (2000). ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE
REVIEW . París: Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development.
 Rinkesh. (2009). Acerca de nosotros: Conserve energy future. Obtenido
de sitio web de Conserve energy future: [Link]
[Link]/[Link]#abh_posts
 Sampath, N. (2011). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. India: Chettinad
College of Engineering and Technology.

Common questions

Powered by AI

Deforestation contributes significantly to global warming by reducing the number of trees available to uptake carbon dioxide and release water vapor, leading to an atmospheric imbalance and temperature rises . This process increases air pollution as fewer trees are available to absorb atmospheric pollutants, thus degrading air quality . Indirect consequences include the exacerbation of climate change-induced phenomena like heatwaves and natural habitat destruction, which affect ecosystems and animal species reliant on forested environments . Human health is indirectly impacted as these environmental shifts exacerbate respiratory problems and vector-borne diseases due to changing habitats .

Primary causes of air pollution include industrial emissions, transportation, and deforestation. Industries release greenhouse gases, especially when burning fossil fuels, contributing to climate change by raising the earth's temperature . Transportation, primarily using fossil fuels, adds to pollution levels as traffic increases . Deforestation reduces the number of trees that absorb carbon dioxide, worsening air quality and further contributing to global warming . The interconnectedness of these causes leads to broader environmental impacts such as smog formation, which exacerbates respiratory and cardiovascular diseases , and societal impacts, including increased health risks for vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions .

Soil pollution, often originating from industrial activities, deforestation, and improper waste disposal, renders soil infertile, hindering crop production and threatening food security . Contaminated soil may result in malnourishment within local communities . Moreover, pollutants can infiltrate the food chain, and consuming contaminated food can lead to illness. Human health is also directly impacted through dermal contact or inhalation of pollutants, which can cause various diseases .

Voluntary agreements in environmental management aim to foster cooperative efforts between the government and private entities to combat pollution. Their effectiveness, however, depends heavily on clearly defined targets, reliable monitoring, and enhanced transparency . When well-structured, these agreements can lead to environmental improvements by encouraging industries to adopt best practices voluntarily, thereby exceeding minimum compliance . However, without stringent enforcement or incentives, the impact of such agreements may be limited, necessitating a mix of regulatory measures and incentives to drive meaningful change .

Recommendations for mitigating air pollution emphasize the need for national policies that decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. This includes reducing harmful subsidies in energy and transportation sectors . Strengthening and expanding economic instruments such as taxes or fees on vehicle emissions would internalize environmental costs, thus promoting more fuel-efficient and less polluting transport options . Policies should also focus on improving transparency and accountability in air quality control measures, encouraging voluntary agreements that are more effective and reliable .

Measures suggested for improving waste management include opening disposal markets to competition, which could drive efficiency through market dynamics . Encouraging extended producer responsibility may shift the burden of waste management costs to producers, incentivizing them to reduce waste . Expanding economic instruments can improve recycling efforts and reduce landfill use, thus conserving natural resources . Collectively, these measures could lead to significant improvements in environmental sustainability by minimizing waste generation, enhancing recycling rates, and reducing ecological footprints .

A national biodiversity strategy can centralize and coordinate efforts to protect and enhance biodiversity, fostering ecological resilience against environmental stressors like pollution and climate change . Benefits include identifying and prioritizing conservation areas, promoting habitat restoration, and safeguarding endangered species, thus preserving ecological balance . This strategy could boost public awareness and engagement, driving collective action towards biodiversity protection . Additionally, it ensures compliance with international conservation obligations, enhancing the nation's environmental reputation and fostering sustainable development .

Water pollution significantly disrupts biodiversity by harming native plant and animal species due to contaminants from agricultural runoff, oil spills, and industrial discharge, leading to habitat destruction . Human communities are affected through health risks from contaminated drinking water, leading to illnesses such as digestive disorders. Notable historical events include the BP oil spill, which resulted in over 8,000 animal deaths and significantly harmed the Gulf ecosystem . The high mortality rates from waterborne diseases in regions with inadequate sewage management further underline the pollution's severe impacts on human health .

Exposure to environmental pollution is closely linked to severe health risks such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases due to air pollutants, and illnesses from waterborne contaminants . Socioeconomic factors significantly influence these outcomes as poorer communities often face higher exposure levels due to inadequate infrastructure, lack of access to clean water, and residing near industrial zones . These communities generally have limited healthcare access, exacerbating pollution-related health issues . Disparities in education and resources further compound vulnerability, making socioeconomic status a critical determinant in the health impacts of pollution .

Implementing environmental policies is crucial for addressing pollution because they seek to decouple economic progress from environmental harm, aiming for sustainable resource use and reduced pollution pressure . Such policies tackle unsolved challenges like diffuse pollution from agriculture and transport, enhancing nature conservation and mitigating environmental stressors . The significance lies in promoting systematic change, encouraging the use of economic instruments to make polluters accountable, and facilitating strategic monitoring and management of resources, thereby ensuring long-term ecological and human health benefits .

You might also like